Category Archives: News

A press release issued on the 9th February 2016 has confirmed that the use of the Paym mobile payment service increased by 89% during the second half of 2015 compared with the same period the previous year. Paym allows users to send and receive payments to a current account held at participating banks or building…

Former Chief Executive of Standard Chartered Bank, Peter Sands, has called on Central Banks to stop issuing high value banknotes in order to tackle crime. A report by Mr Sands produced for the Harvard Kennedy School, has highlighted the use of such banknotes by “terrorists, drug lords and tax evaders”, “The scale of such illicit…

The Philippine’s Central Bank, The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, has confirmed that a new 100-Piso banknote will begin circulating from the 1st February 2016. The note has been designed with a stronger mauve or violet colour compared with the existing banknote, to make it more distinctive. This, says the Central Bank, follows calls from the…

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued press releases confirming that new ₹100 and ₹500 banknotes are soon to be issued. The new notes will still form part of the Mahatma Gandhi series (2005) and will be similar in their design to their predecessors. The new banknotes will have numerals of ascending size in…

Argentina’s Central Bank said on Friday that it would issue higher denomination banknotes during the next two years, addressing rising inflation rates within the country. The highest banknote is currently the 100 peso note, but the Central Bank of Argentina aims to start circulating new 200 and 500 peso banknotes by the end of 2016…

Toronto based payments company nanoPay have acquired the digital currency platform MintChip™ from the Royal Canadian Mint. MintChip™ is “a digital replacement for cash” and, the company says, with backing from the Government of Canada, is the first regulator-friendly digital cash platform. “As a digital payment technology with many of the attributes of cash, MintChip™…

On 25th December 2015 the National Bank of Ukraine presented the new 500 hryvnia banknote, which is to enter circulation on 11 April 2016. The 500 denomination is the latest to be revealed, as part of a project launched in 2012 to revamp all note denominations released between 2003 and 2007. “The main reason behind…

A press release by Safaricom has announced that Kenyan M-Pesa users can now send funds to recipients in Uganda thanks to a partnership with mobile operator MTN. M-Pesa is a mobile phone based money transfer service which was launched in 2007 by Vodaphone for Safaricom and Vodacom – the largest mobile telecommunication services in Kenya…

The Bank of Israel has released the next denomination in its new banknote series, the 200 shekels banknote. Yesterday, the Bank issued a press release advising that the new 200 denomination was being distributed to the public via commercial banks, ATMs and the Israel Postal Company. It is the second denomination of the ‘Series C…

According to online news sources, Zimbabwe has announced that it will make the Chinese yuan legal tender following confirmation that China would cancel $40 million in debts. During a statement by the country’s minister Patrick Chinamasa regarding the debt cancellation, it was advised that Zimbabwe would start using the Chinese yuan as it seeks to increase trade…

SMI is one of the best known independent technical and marketing consultancies serving the banknote and high security document market. In a sector which by its nature is strictly confidential and relies on experience and trust, SMI has built a strong reputation for insight, expertise and integrity.

Philippe Barreau, Managing DirectorSICPA SA

SMI’s unique knowledge of the banknote industry is unrivalled. They are the consultancy of choice within this sector.

Arjo Wiggins, Managing Director BanknotesThibaut d'Argentré

Secura Monde’s knowledge and grasp of the currency industry – the suppliers, issuers, technologies - and the issues and challenges that it faces are second to none.

Astrid Mitchell, EditorReconnaissance International

I can recommend the professional skill of the Secura Monde team and their global network. They are disciplined, organized, analytical, accurate and timely executing agreed tasks, they provide both comprehensive, detailed and meaningful reports and recommendations. Secura Monde also has good technical knowledge in security production and application, and production technologies from start to finish, which is very valuable.

Matthias Müller, Director Business Unit Security FeaturesHueck Folien

For technical and strategic consultation in the field of banknote and high security printing SMI is recognised as the industry leader. The company's understanding of the global market and its relevant technologies is first class and, in a highly competitive sector, SMI can be relied upon to provide expert and reliable independent advice.

Crane Currency

The recent business history of Fabriano in Security papers and features started in 2002 with a key report made by SMI. In fact, Fabriano paper mill was basically supplying banknote paper just to domestic market. With the investment made at that time, enabling their production to increase by 3 times, they need a clear overview on the international market, which was given by SMI, as well as some important advices as to security features alliances, which led Fabriano to take over a leading security thread and holographic foil manufacturer such as Mantegazza, renamed as Fabriano Securities in 2004.